Article carrier



Aug. 22, 1967 H. H. SHANNON 3,337,102

ARTICLE CARRIER Filed Oct. 20, 1965 INVENTOR.

HOWARD H. SHANNON BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofifice 3,337,102 Patented Aug. 22, 1967 3,337,102 ARTICLE CARRIER Howard H. Shannon, 705 S. Clinton, Denver, Colo. 80222 Filed Oct. 20, 1965, 'Ser. No. 498,479 10 Claims. (Cl. 224-45) This invention relates in general to a carrying device and in particular to a compact collapsible device suitable for carrying grocery bags and other similar objects.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple inexpensive carrier suitable for carrying bags of groceries and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible carrier suitable for retaining therein a bag of groceries or other similar items when the carrier is in its open form, the carrier being capable of being conveniently collapsed and stored away when not in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carrier which is light in weight, practical to use and easily cleaned.

Other objects will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the carrier of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view showing the carrier of the invention partly in section and in open position;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the lower portion of the carrier of the invention showing it in collapsed position;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the lower portion of the device of the invention in open position.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the seat portion of thecarrier of the invention in collapsed position.

FIGURE 6 is a section of the bottom frame section with the bottom in the open position.

Referring to the drawings, the carrier indicated generally at 10 comprises a rod-like carrying frame 12 preferably of metal which is bent, welded or otherwise formed into a top section 14, two parallel side sections 16 and 18 and a bottom section 20. Positioned substantially in the middle of the bottom section 20 and being a part thereof is a vertical lug or extension 24, the function of which will be described hereinafter. A handle 26 is positioned around the top section 14 to enable the device to be more easily carried from place to place.

A hexagonally shaped carrier base 28 is positioned within the carrying frame 12 in a manner such that its respective ends 30 and 32 are adjacent the respective side sections 16 and 18. As seen best in FIGURES 4 and 5, the grommets 34 are placed around the frame side sections 16 and 18 and are seated at an angle in the opposite ends 30 and 32 of the carrier base 28. This structure permits the carrier base 28 to be moved up and down on the side sections 16 and 18 and to be pivoted substantially 90 degrees relative to the side and bottom sections'of the frame 12. It will be noted that the seating recesses 36 and 38 are positioned, respectively, in the center and in one side of the said carrier base 28 at right angles to each other. Metal brackets or grommets are preferably seated in the seating recesses. It can be seen that the carrier base 28 may be pivoted to its collapsed or vertical position in which the vertical extension 24 of the frame bottom section 20 protrudes into the recess 38 holding the carrier base in this position. A magnet or series of magnets indicated at 58 are placed in the edge of the carrier base 28 a suitable distance from each side of the hole 38 to assist in holding the metal carrier base 28 in its vertical position. In a similar manner the carrier base 28 may be pivoted to an open or horizontal position in which the vertical extension or lug 24 protrudes a suitable distance into recess 36 thereby holding the carrier base in the open position so that it can serve as a seat for grocery bags and the like. It should be noted that the vertical extension 24 does not extend completely through the recess 36 so that it does not damage articles resting on the carrier base.

When the carrier is in open position, an object such as a bag of groceries may be seated on the carrier base 28 and held in the frame 12 by any suitable means. One securing arrangement completely satisfactory and part of this invention comprises two parallel ropes or straps 40 and 42 positioned one above the other and threaded through the small support brackets 44a-44b and 46a-46b which are mounted in spaced relationship on each frame side section 16 and 18 respectively. Each of the four support brackets 44a-44b and 46a-46b are mounted with their receiving slots substantially perpendicular to the side frame sections 16 and 18 so that the ends of ropes 40 and 42 are supported outwardly away from the frame side sections. This is to prevent any interference with a sack being placed in the carrier. The parallel free ends of the ropes 40 and 42 are connected together either by tying the free ends thereof or by fastening the rope ends to a suitable connecting member. As shown in FIGURE 2, a spring or other resilient device 48 is attached at one end to said tied ropes to permit automatic adjustment in the rope length depending upon the size of the sack being carried. A snap or other fastening member 50 is attached to the device 48 and is adapted to fasten with the opposite connected rope ends shown best in FIGURE 1. The two vertical ropes 52 and 54 are provided merely to keep the ropes 40 and 42 in posi tion and the spacer 56 maintains the ropes in the desired spaced relationship near the fastening member.

When the device of this invention is to be stored, the carrier base 28 is pivoted by means of the grommets 34 and lifted upwards, the grommets sliding along each frame side section 16 and 18. The seating hole 36 within the carrier base moves away from the vertical extension 24 on the bottom frame section 20 before the carrier base is pivoted to its vertical position within the frame 12. The base is then lowered as the grommets 34 slide downwardly along the side sections 16 and 18 and the vertical extension 24 fits into the seating recess 38 thereby holding the carrier base 28 in the collapsed or vertical position. At the same time the magnet 58 contacts the bottom frame section 20 thereby holding the carrier base in its collapsed position, allowing the holder to be conveniently stored. The reverse of the foregoing is carried out to open and utilize the carrier for carrying sacks etc. The carrier base is merely lifted so that seating recess 38 is out of contact with the vertical extension 24 and pivoted to its horizontal position. It is then lowered so that vertical extension 24 fits into seating recess 36. A grocery sack is then placed on the carrier base 28 and the ropes 40 and 42 are Wrapped around the sack and fastened together as previously described.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible carrier comprising a frame having a top, bottom and two parallel side sections, a vertical extension mounted substantially in the center of the said' bottom section, a carrier base member positioned between said parallel side sections and having each end thereof movably and pivotally connected to an adjacent side section; said carrier base member being provided with two recesses, the first being substantially in the center of said carrier base and adapted to cooperate with said vertical extension thus holding the carrier base member in an open position, the second recess being positioned in the side of said carrier base and adapted to cooperate with said vertical extension whenever the said carrier base is lifted and pivoted to the collapsed position relative to the frame thus holding said carrier base in said collapsed position, and an adjustable locking means attached to said side sections for retaining an object placed on said carrier base placed in open position.

2. The collapsible carrier of claim 1 wherein said bottom frame section is metal and a magnet is mounted in the side of said carrier base in spaced relationship to the said recess positioned in the same side of said carrier base, said magnet adapted to substantially aid in holding the side of said carrier base against the said bottom frame section when said carrier base is in the collapsed position.

3. A collapsible carrier comprising a frame having a top, bottom and two parallel side sections, a vertical extension mounted substantially in the center of the said bottom section, a carrier base member positioned between said parallel side sections and having each end thereof movably and pivotally connected to an adjacent side section; said carrier base member being provided with two recesses, the first being substantially in the center of said carrier base and adapted to cooperate with said vertical extension thus holding the carrier base member in an open position, the second recess being positioned in the side of said carrier base and adapted to cooperate with said vertical extension whenever the said carrier base is lifted and pivoted to the collapsed position relative to the frame thus holding said carrier base in said collapsed position, a pair of parallel ropes attached in spaced relationship to each of said frame side sections in such a manner as to extend away from said side sections, the free ends of said ropes being connected together and a latching member attached to one of said free connected rope ends for fastening to the opposite free end of said connected ropes thus retaining an article (a grocery bag) placed on said open carrier base in a completely satisfactory manner.

4. The collapsible carrier of claim 3 wherein said bottom frame section is metal and a magnet is mounted in the side of said carrier base in spaced relationship relative to the said recess positioned in the same side of said carrier base, said magnet adapted to substantially aid in holding the side of said carrier base against the said bottom frame section when said carrier base is in the collapsed position.

5. The collapsible carrier of claim 3 wherein a resilient member is positioned between one free end of said connected ropes and the latching member to provide adjustable rope lengths, thus accommodating various bag sizes.

6. A collapsible article carrier constructed to be adjusted to an open condition for carrying articles and to a collapsed condition for storage comprising: a frame having a bottom and a top section connected by side sections; an article supporting base member pivotally supported on said frame side sections to move to a horizontal position with the carrier in open position and to a vertical position with the carrier in collapsed position; mutually cooperating securing means on said frame bottom section and said base section for securing said base member alternately in a horizontal and a vertical position, said securing means comprising an upstanding lug on said frame bottom section, a seating recess centrally located in the bottom of said base member for receiving said lug with said base member in horizontal position and a seating recess in the edge of said base member for receiving said lug with said base member in vertical position; and supporting means mounted on said side sections above said base member for encompassing articles supported on said base member to hold them in said carrier.

7. A collapsible article carrier constructed to be adjustable to an open condition for carrying articles and to a collapsed condition for storage comprising: a frame having a bottom and a top section connected by side sections; an article supporting base member having at least two ends and at least two side edges, said base member being positioned between said side sections and adapted to be supported internally of said frame on said bottom section, said base member having one of said ends pivotally and slidably connected to one of said side sections and the other of said ends pivotally and slidably connected to the other of said side sections and operative to slide downwardly along said side sections and between them and pivot to an open position relative to said frame with the carrier in open position and to slide upwardly along said side sections and between them and pivot to a collapsed position relative to said frame with the carrier in collapsed position.

8. A collapsible article carrier constructed to be adjustable to an open condition for carrying articles and to a collapsed condition for storage comprising: a frame having a bottom and a top section connected by side sections; an article supporting base member pivotally and slidably connected at each end to one of said side sections and operative to slide downwardly along said side sections and pivot to an open position relative to said frame with the carrier in open position and to slide upwardly along said side sections and pivot to a collapsed position relative to said frame with the carrier in collapsed position; and mutually cooperating securing means on said frame bottom section and said base member for securing said base member alternately in a horizontal and a vertical position.

9. A collapsible article carrier constructed to be adjustable to an open condition for carrying articles and to a collapsed condition for storage comprising: A frame having a bottom and a top section connected by side sections; an article supporting base member pivotally and slidably connected at each end to one of said side sections and operative to slide downwardly along said side sections and pivot to an open position relative to said frame with the carrier in open position and to slide upwardly along said side sections and pivot to a collapsed position relative to said frame with the carrier in collapsed position; and supporting means mounted on said side sections above said base member for encompassing articles supported on said base member to hold them in said carrier.

10. A collapsible article carrier constructed to be adjustable to an open condition for carrying articles and to a collapsed condition for storage comprising: a frame having a bottom and a top section connected by side sections; an article supporting base member pivotally and slidably connected at each end by a staple having a width between its prongs greater than the thickness of the respective side section, said base member being operative to slide downwardly along said side sections and pivot to an open position relative to said frame with the carrier in open position and to slide upwardly along said side sections and pivot to a collapsed position relative to said frame with the carrier in collapsed position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 238,564 3/1881 Brown.

495,080 4/ 1893 Wilson.

724,492 4/ 1903 Palmer 224-46 X 795,147 7/1905 Magofi'in 214-700 2,001,438 5/1935 Stuck 224-46 2,039,473 5/ 1936 Bennington. 2,723,067 11/ 1955 Fretz 224-45 FOREIGN PATENTS 673,445 1/ 1930 France.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

F. W. WERNER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE CARRIER COMPRISING A FRAME HAVING A TOP, BOTTOM AND TWO PARALLEL SIDE SECTIONS, A VERTICAL EXTENSION MOUNTED SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE CENTER OF THE SAID BOTTOM SECTION, A CARRIER BASE MEMBER POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID PARALLEL SIDE SECTIONS AND HAVING EACH END THEREOF MOVABLY AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO AN ADJACENT SIDE SECTION; SAID CARRIER BASE MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH TWO RECESSES, THE FIRST BEING SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE CENTER OF SAID CARRIER BASE AND ADAPTED TO COOPERATE WITH SAID VERTICAL EXTENSION THUS HOLDING THE CARRIER BASE MEMBER IN AN OPEN POSITION, THE SECOND RECESS BEING POSITIONED IN THE SIDE OF SAID CARRIER BASE AND ADAPTED TO COOPERATE WITH SAID VERTICAL EXTENSION WHENEVER THE SAID CARRIER BASE IN LIFTED AND PIVOTED TO THE COLLAPSED POSITION RELATIVE TO THE FRAME THUS HOLDING SAID CARRIER BASE IN SAID COLLAPSED POSITION, AND AN ADJUSTABLE LOCKING MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID SIDE SECTIONS FOR RETAINING AN OBJECT PLACED ON SAID CARRIER BASE PLACED IN OPEN POSITION. 